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Veterans and Substance Abuse

Author’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

Course Number and Name

Instructor’s Name

Due Date
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Veterans and Substance Abuse

Veterans are exposed to several traumatic events during their time in services. Seeking

adequate treatment strategies is one of the most effective approaches in dealing with the

traumatic experiences which could lead to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, this

is not the case for most of them since some end up using drugs as a coping mechanism. Using

drugs as a coping mechanism is risky and toxic behavior because they are prone to addiction and

this could worsen their pre-existing condition. Substance use disorders among veterans are

common, indicating that their exposure to the combat, witnessing several deaths and the multiple

deployments during their services contributes to a level of poor mental health which triggers

drug use. Due to the increasing health issues associated with drug use among veterans, healthcare

professionals should analyze the alcohol and suicide risk, and the role that gender plays in the

veterans’ drug use.

Summary

Alcohol and Suicide Risk

Kopacz et al. (2018) set out create a conceptual understanding by examining if meaning-

making attenuated the association between suicide risk and alcohol misuse severity among

active-duty veterans. The authors’ unique approach involves the use of a sample of unique

individuals, selected based on circumstances showing a possibility of high-risk suicidality. The

key hypothesis in the study was the search for the meaning of life would mitigate the odds of

self-reporting suicide attempt history considered as a representation of a category of more

suicide severity in the selected sample. The study utilized a sample of 97 individuals from a

population of 168 individuals invited to participate in the research. The exclusion criteria

involved the presence of severe mental conditions, affecting the ability to give informed consent.
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The data was analyzed statistically through IBM SPSS Statistics, tested using chi-squared

independence test, and logic regression modelling to establish the relative association of suicide

attempter to meaning of life and alcohol use.

The study findings did not support the study hypothesis. The findings indicate that the

higher the number of drinks, the higher the odds of being in the high-suicide risk category

despite adjustments in the search for the meaning of life. The findings significantly contradict the

critical conceptual framework associated with meaning-making, which is supposed to be a

protective measure against suicidal behavior and alcohol misuse. While the study is linked with

significant outcomes based on reliable research, the authors comprehensively address the study

limitations with effective recommendations for future research. The time frame is a crucial

limitation because the authors suggest that meaning-making could have a potential impact if the

study was allocated sufficient time. The authors recommend for additional research in clinical

utility of meaning-making approaches for improving health outcomes among veterans involved

in drug abuse contributing to suicide attempts.

Sex Differences in Mental Health Symptoms and Substance Use

The study examines two crucial factors associated with veterans and drug use. First,

assessment of the potential sex differences in 3 different experiences including emotional and

cognitive changes from combat, war atrocities and betrayal from leadership which result in moral

injury such as shame, guilt, inability to forgive oneself or others and behavior withdrawal. The

second is an assessment of whether moral injury contributes to different outcomes between

males and females regarding mental health and substance use. The hypothesis was based on

more anxiety and depression symptoms among women and more drug abuse and dangerous

alcohol consumption among men. The study utilized a sample of 256 veterans (156 males and
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100 females), 186 National Guard, 51 Reservists and 19 active duty military personnel. The

exclusion criteria were based on the ability of the participants to clearly define their positions

with information that could be verified by the researcher, a recent era veteran. The data was

statistically analyzed through t tests and regression analysis.

The study findings indicated a negative prediction for hazardous alcohol use and mental

health symptoms and gender had no moderations in this finding. While there is a greater risk for

hazardous drinking among veterans who report more symptoms associated with moral injury,

both genders met the cutoff set for hazardous alcohol use. The most crucial finding is that the

gap in gender associated with hazardous drinking is slowly decreasing. Especially among young

individuals. The study findings indicate a contradiction to the hypothesis because gender has no

role in moderating drug abuse symptoms and moral injury association. The authors articulate the

study limitations, including the cross-sectional nature of the study, limiting causal inferences

regarding mental health outcomes and moral injury. For future research, the authors recommend

that it should further differentiate between the exposure from consequences of military activity

and pre-military experiences.

Assessment and Critique

Information in both articles can be trusted because the article are credible and reliable

sources. First, the articles’ currency demonstrates that the information provided can be trusted

because it is a recent article, published within the last five years. The articles by Kopacz et al.

(2018) and Kelley et al. (2019) show from the publication years that they are recently published

articles. Both articles present relevant information according to the research topic, demonstrating

relevance in the information provided, meaning both articles can be trusted. Both articles have

research associated with the veterans and their engagement in drug and substance use, which is
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according to the research topic. Accuracy of the information can be proved in both articles,

demonstrating information truthfulness and correctness. The accuracy can be verified through

redoing the statistical analysis, ensuring that all the values in both articles are right. Additionally,

both articles serve a specific purpose and there is approval from other authors in the same field,

demonstrating the reliability of both articles.

In Kelley et al. (2019) study, the authors effectively demonstrate the use of critical

thinking through the discussion and explanation provided for the results. The clarity with which

the results are explained leaves the reader satisfied with the information provided, demonstrating

the implementation of critical thinking standards. The clarity is also portrayed by the definition

of various terms, showing that the authors acknowledge the readers that may not be fully

informed about the topic, making it easier for them to understand the article. The scope is also

reasonable. The authors do not provide too much information which can be confusing to the

readers; they have demonstrated effective breadth in the content coverage supporting the use of

critical thinking standards in the article. However, significance and fairness are not

comprehensively covered as demonstrated by the study limitations.

Kopacz et al. (2018) portray various critical thinking standards in the study. Accuracy

and precision are widely supported throughout the research. Accuracy is demonstrated by the

ability to support the findings with logical explanations despite the hypothesis being

disapproved. Additionally, there are sufficient examples supporting the various claims made

throughout the study, reflecting accuracy. The authors demonstrate precision by providing

efficient support from other such studies, demonstrating the effectiveness of the study in the

specified topic. Further, by the exclusion criteria, it demonstrates that the authors were focused

on particular areas and aimed to achieve this through precisely focusing on the key participants
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after eliminating other participants. However, depth is not clearly demonstrated in the study. The

sample selected was based on individuals with high-risk factors, eliminating other possibilities,

meaning the study cannot be implemented in a general perspective for veterans. This also

contributes to limited scope, providing the reader with specific information that covers a

specified area without considerations of other possibilities.

Reflection

Both articles are useful to my study because of the contribution to the existing literature

associated with veterans and drug use and the health outcomes. The articles contain detailed

reports of the study topic, which can be used in supporting various claims that could be made

while conducting research and providing final research recommendations and findings. Further,

the two articles serve a key purpose of adding to my overall knowledge regarding drug use

among veterans and the health impacts, adding to the main idea and purpose of the research. The

articles demonstrate effective and quality research, demonstrating the reliability of these articles

in contributing to the research bibliography. The articles’ structure also offers a source of

guidance when writing the final research article, enhancing the writing skills. Thus, the articles

offer major contribution to my study, demonstrating reliability, accuracy and credibility as

sources of information.

Kopacz et al. (2018) article informs on the areas associated with veterans, regarding

alcohol and suicide risk and the role that meaning-making plays. The article critically analyzes

alcohol use and suicide behavior among veterans and how this habit adversely impacts health

outcomes. Alcohol disorders are comprehensively discussed in the article, informing the reader

about the possible associations between such disorders and mental health. The article also covers

about how combat experiences shape the outcomes of veterans regarding drug use and suicide
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rates. Health is a crucial aspect covered in the article because veterans’ mental health is reported

to be deteriorating and such a theme highlights areas that require attention to alleviate the health

burden and improve health outcomes. The information in the article is effectively supported by

other articles in a similar research field. This is demonstrated by the scholarly research articles

utilized as references, demonstrating no contradiction with the information provided, supporting

the perspective that meaning of life does not have much influence over veterans’ outcomes

regarding alcohol and substance use.

Kelley et al. (2019) explore the gender perspective and the variation in outcomes among

veterans based on gender. There is a possibility that combat experience affects individuals

differently and exploring the gender aspect contributes to a better understanding of the veterans’

drug and alcohol use, and how this impacts their mental health. The authors comprehensively

cover the historic period when women were limited from engaging in combat until when the ban

was lifted, raising concerns over the differences between gender. Moral injury is another theme

explored and how this impacts women and men as veterans, influencing their alcohol

consumption behavior. The authors also explore various mental health disorders, contributing to

a better understanding of the role of gender in veteran alcohol use and mental health. The

information in the article aligns with other research articles under similar themes, supporting that

gender has minimal role in the experiences that combat veterans experience, resulting in their

drug and alcohol use. The articles used as references support the authors’ claims, demonstrating

the article’s effectiveness in presenting the research which results in reliable and credible

information.
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References

Kelley, M. L., Braitman, A. L., White, T. D., & Ehlke, S. J. (2019). Sex differences in mental health

symptoms and substance use and their association with moral injury in veterans. Psychological

Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 11(3), 337–344.

https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000407

Kopacz, M. S., Bryan, C. J., Bishop, T. M., & Ashrafioun, L. (2018). Alcohol and suicide risk:

Examining the role of meaning-making. Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 14(4), 220–227.

https://doi.org/10.1080/15504263.2018.1513618